Increased corrosion resistance for hydraulic ball valves

STAUFF, the fluid technology specialist from Werdohl, will be changing from a zinc/iron coating to a significantly higher-quality and corrosion-resistant zinc/nickel surface for a substantial part of its range of two-way and multi-way block ball valves for hydraulics. The company announced this in the run-up to the Hannover Messe trade fair in April.

Andreas Heinzen, product manager for ball valves at STAUFF, explains: “With this change to the zinc/nickel coating, which has been standard for many others of our products for years, we are following the demands from numerous OEM customers and users, but also our own claim to increasingly supply steel line components with a standardised surface coating with the highest possible quality – all from one source.”

The established zinc/nickel surface offers over 1,200 hours of resistance to red rust/base metal corrosion under practical test conditions in the salt spray chamber in line with EN ISO 9227. The chromium(VI)-free coating exceeds the highest requirements with regard to durability, as e.g. defined in the VDMA Standard Sheet 24576. It has a high-quality appearance similar to stainless steel while complying with all relevant ELV, REACH and RoHS guidelines.

The gradual changeover affects two-way ball valves from the BBV-2 series and the most commonly used three-way ball valves from the CBVL-3 and CBVSL-3 series (with L-hole in the ball) as well as CBVT-3 and CBVST-3 (with T-hole in the ball). These are available with BSP, NPT and UN/UNF internal threads, ORFS or 24° cone connections and are primarily used as manually operated shut-off valves in mobile and stationary hydraulics.

Mixed deliveries are possible during the changeover period until the zinc/nickel version has become full standard for all products delivered. This creates no differences or even disadvantages for the installer or user with regard to storage, installation or operation.

Ball valves from STAUFF are made from European quality steel with the option of full material traceability. The balls with hard chromium plating, which reduce friction and wear, usually have a full through hole corresponding to the nominal diameter of the line, so that no detrimental reduction in the diameter of the hydraulic line occurs. Free flow is also supported by the fact that no exposed threads are located in the medium passage. This reduces vibration, noise and heat generation in the system, ensuring full capacity of the machine.

Global availability through wholly-owned branches and distributors in all industrial countries.